# gimp

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡɪmp/ · frequency rank #36,999

## Definitions
1. A narrow ornamental fabric or braid of silk, wool, or cotton, often stiffened with metallic wire or coarse cord running through it, used as trimming for dresses, curtains, furniture, etc. Also guimpe.
2. Any coarse or reinforced thread, such as a glazed thread employed in lacemaking to outline designs, or silk thread used as a fishing leader, protected from the bite of fish by a wrapping of fine wire.
3. The plastic cord used in the plaiting and knotting craft scoubidou (lanyard making); or, the process itself.
4. Gumption.

## Etymology
Attested since about 1660, perhaps from Dutch gimp or French guimpe, and likely from Old French guimpre, a variant of guipure, a kind of trimming.
The regional sense of "gumption" is attested since about 1905, and may have developed due to the reinforced nature of gimp cord, or possibly the influence of the words gumption and gumph.

## Easily confused with
- **GM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gm)
- **GP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gp)
- **gym** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gym)
- **GOP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gop)
- **gum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gum)
- **gin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gin)
- **git** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-git)
- **gma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gma)
- **GMO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gmo)
- **GSM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gsm)
- **Gio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gio)
- **gms** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gms)
- **GMP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gmp)
- **GSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gsp)
- **give** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-give)
- **girl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-girl)
- **grip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-grip)
- **grim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-grim)
- **gina** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gina)
- **gums** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gimp-vs-gums)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ggimp`, `gimmp`, `gimpp`, `gipm`, `gmip`, `igmp`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gimp